Two million U.S. citizens abused or were addicted to painkillers in 2013, the AHA points out, leading to an average of 44 deaths per day from overdose.
“Precisely because the dangers of under-treating pain and of over-prescribing opioids are so great, hospitals and their medical staffs are eager to have scientifically sound guidance from a well respected organization such as the CDC,” the AHA letter reads.
The AHA told the CDC it will likely receive comments from a large number of AHA constituents, and that the substantial dangers in mismanaging opioids are so great that a final guidance to help steer clinical practice is urgent.
More articles on prescription abuse:
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